April 13Ð20, 2005

Academy-award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis believes a thriving community theater culture is important for cities like Boise, and lectures on this importance Thursday at The Red Lion Downtowner. Dukakis won the Oscar for her performance in Moonstruck and has worked on Broadway, in London, and as acting teacher extraordiniare at New York University for 15 years. In addition to her 40-year career in the biz, Dukakis is a longtime champion of community theater, serving as a founding member and producing artistic director of the Whole Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey for 19 years and currently on the board of Boise's New Heritage Theatre Company. Discussion topics include the craft of acting, the cultural benefit of community theater, and Dukakis' personal involvement with one of Boise's newest. The audience can also offer up questions at the event.

Variety is appreciated in any live performance, and Boise's contemporary Idaho Dance Theatre delivers every show with distinct uniqueness throughout their program. IDT's upcoming spring concert features five separate works showcasing this knack for a creative mix. Carl Rowe premieres Affinities, set to the mellow music of saxophonist Jan Garbarek in contrast to the energetic choreography. Rowe's Soliloquies, first performed in 1998, showcases a series of solos revolving around the mystery of life, with the backdrop of Evelyn Glennie's mariamba music composed by Keiko Abe. Pulse features the entire company and choreography by Lauren Edson, formerly of the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Set to native percussion sounds from West Africa, movement in Pulse is inspired by African and Hip-Hop dance. Garden of Souls is an evocative dance combining ballet's power and elegance with the exotic sensuality of belly dancing, choreographed by Marla Hansen. The most intriguing of this eclectic show is set to the music of Tracy Chapman and also choreographed by Hansen. To Be Lovedpremieres as an exploration of the various stages of relationships depicted through intimate partnering.

Boise State graduate student Matt Vander Boegh went above and beyond the call of duty creating the rock opera The Erinys for his masters degree in communication. Vander Boegh linked this project to Boise's local scene, and the only live performance of The Erinys is this weekend at the Morrison Center's Stage II. The story, based on the theme of violence and revenge, thematically and symbolically asks the question: "When is violence justified?" It draws parallels between the war in Iraq and common street vengeance. One type of violence is justified and applauded; the other is admonished and punishable. The music and libretto push this theme. The Erinys is composed of 15 songs ranging in style, but mostly fit into the realm of hard rock. "It's mostly dark and minor throughout ... not a lot of happiness when dealing with violent revenge," Vander Boegh said. A local rock musician in the past himself, Vander Boegh wrote all the songs and brought in 17 other musicians to play throughout the production of this CD. Among the 17 were the vocal stylings of Jeremy Cummings and Jayk Reynolds, and Cliff Miller, Lee Vander Boegh and Brendan Nickel on the guitar. Though the CD itself was recorded at the Audio Lab in Boise, mastering was done by Mike Bozzi (Janet Jackson, Jurassic 5, Young Buck) at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood.

The graphic design was also produced by local artists, with Matt Allred handling the photography and design by Jeremy Webster. Allred and Webster pitched in to help Vander Boegh make the 20-page booklet adding a visual element to an audio project. The Erinys CD can be found at the Record Exchange and Hastings for $12, though it sells for $8 at the show.

Boise Contemporary Theater's (BCT) brings their 2004-05 season to a close with Lee Blessing's Eleemosynary, " ... a funny, perceptive and eloquently written play ... " according to St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch. Eleemosynary probes into the delicate relationship of three singular women: the grandmother, Dorothea, who has sought to assert her independence through strong-willed eccentricity; her brilliant daughter, Artie (Artemis), who has fled the stifling domination of her mother; and Artie's daughter, Echo, a child of exceptional intellect and sensitivity, whom Artie has abandoned to an upbringing by Dorothea. As the play begins, Dorothea has suffered a stroke, and while Echo has re-established contact with her mother, it is only through extended telephone conversations, during which real issues are skirted and their talk is mostly about the precocious Echo's single-minded domination of a national spelling contest. Featuring performances by Lynn Allison, Tracy Sunderland and Kelly Balch under the direction of Ann Klautsch. Previews of the show (running Thursdays through Saturdays until May 7) are $10 at 8 p.m. on April 13, 14 and 15.

The queen of fiddlers herself, Eileen Ivers, makes an appearance with her band Immigrant Soul instead of via Riverdance. Ivers has been dubbed "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin" by The New York Times and performed side by side Paula Cole, The Chieftains, Hall and Oates, and the Boston Pops Orchestra to establish herself as the world's pre-eminent ambassador of the Irish fiddle. Backed by her versatile band Immigrant Soul, Ivers showcases a unique sound drawing upon a wide range of musical styles while remaining true to Celtic traditions. Whether with symphony orchestras or in her own shows, Eileen's personality and virtuosity ensure that her band "rocks the house everywhere it plays," according to The Boston Globe.

A founding member of the all-woman folk group Cherish the Ladies, Ivers has toured the world to great acclaim, not only with Riverdance but as a featured player with such contemporary performers as The Hothouse Flowers, Luka Bloom and Patti Smith. The daughter of Irish immigrants, Eileen Ivers grew up in the culturally diverse neighborhood of the Bronx, New York. Rooted in Irish traditional music since the age of 8, Ivers proceeded to win nine All-Ireland fiddle championships, a 10th on tenor banjo and over 30 championship medals, making her one of the most awarded persons ever to compete in the prestigious competition.

As an Irish-American, the intrigue of learning more about the multicultural sounds of her childhood took hold. After graduating magna cum laude in mathematics from Iona College and continuing her post graduate work in mathematics, Ivers fully immersed herself in the musical genres she experienced growing up in the Big Apple. The end result is a signature sound blending African and Latin percussion and bass, Irish instrumentalists and soulful American vocals

It's time again to flex your muscles in contrast of what you'll find at the fourth annual Fitness Expo brought to Boise by BodyBuilding.com. The event is reportedly bigger and better than ever and features some of the finest the fitness world has to offer, including Mr. USA Bob Cicherillo and eight-time Miss Olympia Lenda Murray. IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Gunter Schlierkamp and fitness supermodel Christina Lindley will be there, as well as fitness champion Laura Mak and the Groove Attack Dance Team. The Expo provides attendees with a chance to receive training advice from top professional athletes, such as Arizona Cardinals quarterback Shaun King and St. Louis Rams defensive end Tyoka Jackson, as well as other NFL players. World-class bodybuilders will give demonstrations, world-class performers will offer fitness routines, and the hottie-body figure competition rounds out the night. The Ms. BodyBuilding.com contest begins at 7 p.m. and the first 1,000 people through the door (opening at 6 p.m.) get a free BodyBuilding.com T-shirt. So come early or plan to arm wrestle a free shirt away from the no-necker ahead in line. Vendors will also be giving away free samples and door prizes throughout the evening and the after-party kicks off at 10 p.m. with music by BrokinSilence.

Another freaky show by the Freak Alley Gallery will be held this weekend consisting of indoor and outdoor art, music and spoken word. This is the second show put together by the gallery sandwiched between Bannock and Idaho in the alley off 9th Street. In order see the interior show, spectators have to pass the displayed art on the alley walls thereby soaking up the equal parts outdoor show. A suggested donation of $3 will be appreciated by the musicians present: Reality Inverse, Joshua Ro Scalice, Rick Briscoe and Jerm Imani; featured artists: Trenah Emrys, Marcus Pierce, Erik Lopez, Sara McDonald, Simon Tracy, Cliff Irvine and others; and spoken word by Douglas Barnes, Michael Hoover, Casey Gonzalez and Ben Smith.